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Offseason Strategy

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
Posted (edited)

Couple interesting thoughts from Ellis (posted elsewhere but worthy of a discussion on their own)

Basically, the theory is that the Panthers feel the need to make some moves they might not otherwise make because they're prepping for an offseason where no free agents with other options are gonna want to sign here. Those who do might not be in much demand or might be in their last years or maybe lesser known guys just looking for a chance somewhere.

Under normal circumstances, a consequence of that strategy would be to make the draft much more valuable. Unfortunately, we traded away a good portion of our picks so, unless we trade down or trade players for more picks, that cupboard looks kinda bare.

Oy 😕

It'd be nice to think we have hope because of the new coaching additions (or just general optimism) but right now I have to admit I'm looking at this offseason as something to analyze more than something to enjoy. The old Chinese saying "may you live in interesting times" applies here, again depending on your definition of "interesting".

I'm curious to hear what people think this is gonna look like.

 

 

Yeah, I know it's likely to be crap, but I'm thinking more in terms of specifics or predictions.

In light of what the team appears to be thinking, how do you see this playing out?

Edited by Mr. Scot
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CatalystNX Contributor

CatalystNX

Posted
Posted

Free agents sign with shitty teams all the time. Look how many FA's the Jags routinely sign. It's about money in the end for most guys.

Personally, I've never expected us to go after any HUGE names in free agency. More likely we're looking at a handful of mid-level guys on the OL; I just hope they're half-decent ones, unlike last offseason.

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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13 minutes ago, Luciu5 said:

Why keep a coaching staff/FO when you know this is what they will be dealing with? It's a lose/lose situation with predetermined results. Just not getting the reluctance to fire Rhule and suffer through a handicapped season.

Couldn't even begin to explain the "why" on this.

It never made sense to me.

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thefuzz Mentor

thefuzz

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3 minutes ago, CatalystNX said:

Free agents sign with shitty teams all the time. Look how many FA's the Jags routinely sign. It's about money in the end for most guys.

Personally, I've never expected us to go after any HUGE names in free agency. More likely we're looking at a handful of mid-level guys on the OL; I just hope they're half-decent ones, unlike last offseason.

Usually shitty teams have to overpay for said services.

If JAX or CAR is the destination, they aren't signing here for the same amount of money as say....Dolphins or Green Bay.  We have to pay higher to get their services...which is one of the reasons the team was bad to start with.

 

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Waldo Grand Master

Waldo

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5 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Couldn't even begin to explain the "why" on this.

It never made sense to me.

The why is simple, Tepper has no idea what is going on and still thinks Rhule can work his 3rd year magic...

I do wonder if he is thinking something like 'these fans, what is their problem? He told you to trust the process.' There is zero indications that he has learned one positive thing from his Rhule mess yet.

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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6 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

Usually shitty teams have to overpay for said services.

If JAX or CAR is the destination, they aren't signing here for the same amount of money as say....Dolphins or Green Bay.  We have to pay higher to get their services...which is one of the reasons the team was bad to start with.

We're not just a sh-tty team.

We're a sh-tty team headed for a wasted season with a lame duck coach.

Good luck marketing that to free agents.

0*JB6K7NDfOTspbS1t.gif

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BlitzMonster Mentor

BlitzMonster

Posted
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I'll look into my crystal ball and take a shot:

  • 1) Ian Thomas contract means the team will play a lot of double TE
  • 2) double TE protects the lousy OL - which means the team isn't planning on adding any new FA or draft picks to help
  • 3) double TE means the team runs a lot more, taking the ball out of Darnold's / Pickett's (tiny) hands.  Less emphasis on passing and fewer INT's
  • 4)  The Panthers offense is going to be as run-centric as Ohio State circa 1974 and become one of the lowest scoring and least explosive teams in the NFL
  • 5) the Carolina fans will look fondly on those recent 5 win seasons and wish the 2022 squad could be so good
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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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1 minute ago, BlitzMonster said:

I'll look into my crystal ball and take a shot:

  • 1) Ian Thomas contract means the team will play a lot of double TE
  • 2) double TE protects the lousy OL - which means the team isn't planning on adding any new FA or draft picks to help
  • 3) double TE means the team runs a lot more, taking the ball out of Darnold's / Pickett's (tiny) hands.  Less emphasis on passing and fewer INT's
  • 4)  The Panthers offense is going to be as run-centric as Ohio State circa 1974 and become one of the lowest scoring and least explosive teams in the NFL
  • 5) the Carolina fans will look fondly on those recent 5 win seasons and wish the 2022 squad could be so good

Reasonable, especially number four.

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trueblade Grand Master

trueblade

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I'd expect Rhule to dictate moves that give him the best chance of still being employed after the season. I'd anticipate he'd want to acquire a Jimmy G level QB to compete with Darnold unless he thinks a rookie like Pickett gives him a mulligan (though that strategy didn't work out for Nagy).

Loyalty and guys who are "bought in" to Rhule will be paramount to him. This could possibly explain the recent move to resign Thomas as Ian is 'bought in'.

As for Tepper's motivation, I'm speculating that maybe he still wants Kevin Colbert as a consultant/football czar. He knows he can't get Colbert until after the draft so he's giving Rhule/Fitterer another go at it. 

If Rhule/Fitt pull a rabbit out of their hat, and have a successful season, Tepper looks like a genius for his 'patience'. If they don't, Tepper can clear the deck and let Colbert have broad discretion with little pushback. 

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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4 minutes ago, trueblade said:

I'd expect Rhule to dictate moves that give him the best chance of still being employed after the season. I'd anticipate he'd want to acquire a Jimmy G level QB to compete with Darnold unless he thinks a rookie like Pickett gives him a mulligan (though that strategy didn't work out for Nagy).

Loyalty and guys who are "bought in" to Rhule will be paramount to him. This could possibly explain the recent move to resign Thomas as Ian is 'bought in'.

As for Tepper's motivation, I'm speculating that maybe he still wants Kevin Colbert as a consultant/football czar. He knows he can't get Colbert until after the draft so he's giving Rhule/Fitterer another go at it. 

If Rhule/Fitt pull a rabbit out of their hat, and have a successful season, Tepper looks like a genius for his 'patience'. If they don't, Tepper can clear the deck and let Colbert have broad discretion with little pushback. 

Again, reasonable analysis.

I'd throw in the caveat that while Rhule will most certainly make moves to help save his job, he hasn't necessarily shown great judgment at all times so some of those moves may backfire.

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    • tukafan21
      something to feel good about in the offseason..."could be something special brewing in Carolina"

      By tukafan21 · Posted

      Then don't tune in. It's really not a hard concept to understand, if your making your decision based on your own personal needs/feelings as opposed to what is best for the future of the franchise, then it's a you problem, not a Panthers problem. When the season is already lost, every fan should be rooting for the same thing.  The team plays hard until the final whistle of the season and keeps improving as a team and individually, but in the end, we still come up short and lose games, and preferably because the other team beat us, not because we screwed up and found a way to lose due to our own fault. Look at it this way... If we are up 1 or 2 points with 3 seconds left in the game and the other team is lining up for a FG.  Beyond the joy of victory or the disappointment of defeat, what impact does the other team making or missing the FG have on our team the following season? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING Except where we draft and what teams we play due to our finish in the division. The players and coaches on the team would have the exact same level of improvement and learnings about themselves individually and as a team whether the FG is made or missed.  The ONLY difference in the end is the record in the standings and if the win or loss number changes. If you want to argue if making the playoffs to lose in the first round or just missing them is better or worse, that's totally fair and I can at least understand the other side of it.  But in what is already a lost season, if you're not hoping your team plays well but ends up losing, then you're cutting off your nose to spite your face.  You're hoping for a moment of happiness at the detriment of the franchise's future, and in turn, you're basically then happy for a moment to only set yourself up for future further disappointment.
    • HaricotVert
      something to feel good about in the offseason..."could be something special brewing in Carolina"

      By HaricotVert · Posted

      If we’re eliminated I want the wins more.   The season is already a disappointment and if I’m not pulling for wins why bother to tune in?
    • tukafan21
      something to feel good about in the offseason..."could be something special brewing in Carolina"

      By tukafan21 · Posted

      Two things terribly wrong with this post. First is that not one time has myself or anyone else agreeing with me said that the team themselves should think that way or try and lose for positioning.  Never once have I suggested the team should purposefully lose games, ever.  I honestly can't understand why people keep saying this in posts, not one fan has ever said the players should or would purposefully try to lose. And second, is yes, that has happened and it's happened very recently.  The 2020 Bengals were 4-11-1 and then were playing in the SB the very next season.   And while it might have been 2 years later and they didn't quite get to the SB, the 2021 Lions were 3-13-1 and then the 2023 Lions were up 24-7 at halftime of the NFC Championship game. The season between those two? They finished 9-8 and only just missed the playoffs. Which is why I keep trying to compare us to the Lions in where we are at in our re-build.  Throw out Bryce's rookie year with the Reich staff who just didn't work out and he looked god awful.   This past season when we were 5-12 in Canales' 1st season is that 2021 season for the Lions and their 1st season under Campbell.  This year is their 2022 where they grew a ton and Campbell's culture building was clear, where I'm saying we'd likely be better off in the long run if we go 8-9 or 9-8 and just miss out on the playoffs (which is still a significant improvement from last year).  Then our 2026 is their 2024 when we have a chance to be a real contender after adding a few more pieces and our key players having another year of experience under their belts.
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